Beritabali.com is reporting that plans to build an airport in North Bali at Kubutambahan are moving forward. The proposed airport – much of which will be built as a “floating airport”on reclaimed land, will occupy 1,400 hectares for runways and taxiways and 260-hectare adjoining aero-city located on the shoreline.

According to local press reports, the new airport is only waiting for an official final location permit that must be issued by the Ministry of Transportation.

The president director of PT Bandara Internasional Bali Utara (BIBU) Panji Sakti, I Made Mangku, told the press on Wednesday, April 12, 2017: “If there are no obstacles and the location permit is issued, we will undertake an official groundbreaking on August 28, 2017.”

Mangku announced that the new airport would be built with an “eco-green concept” meaning that no agriculture or rice fields will be sacrificed to make way for the new airport. Moreover, the developers are assuring that no religious temples or historical sites will be affected by the project.

“The concept for the new airport will (also) pay attentions to the activities of local fishermen ensuring they can continue to go to sea. We will make all the preparations for the local fishermen. There will also be no rice fields destroyed,” explained Mangku.

Made Mangku declared that all the necessary recommendations for the airport’s construction are now in hand, both on a regency and provincial level.

Speaking on April 12, Mangku said: “Today, a team from the Ministry of Transportation visited the location for the new airport to analyze the location permit. Hopefully, the location permit will soon be issued and we can do a groundbreaking on August 28, 2017.”

Mangku claims the new airport will be built as a joint investment by investors from three countries. A Canadian investor will construct the runway; an investor from Belarus will develop the Aero-city; and an investor from South Korean will be in charge of the overall construction of the Airport.

Mangku said Rp. 50 trillion has been secured for the airport project, but more money is still needed, including funds to create an access road connecting the aerodrome to Singaraja and Denpasar.

Those working on the project claim 10-15 years will be needed to complete the airport.

The proposed airport is planned to have twin runways measuring 3,600 meters long and 60 meters wide.

Source: http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=15951